We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labour prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Thessalonians 1:3
India – Karnataka proposes new anti-conversion law; Hindutva extremists invade churches; Madhya Pradesh pastors take steps to counter false claims of forced conversions
Basavaraj Bommai, the chief minister of Karnataka, India, announced on 28 September that the state government intends to introduce an anti-conversion law. Such a law would make Karnataka the tenth Indian state to criminalise conversions carried out through force, fraud or allurement.
The Karnataka government followed this on 13 October by launching an investigation into all Christian activity within the state in an attempt to prevent allegedly forced conversions to Christianity. The Christian community, which, according to the 2011 census, comprises just under two per cent of the state’s population, strongly opposed the action, staging a demonstration on 25 October in Hubballi.
The government’s actions have emboldened radical nationalists. On Sunday 17 October extremists forcibly entered Bairidevarkoppa Church, Hubballi, singing bhajans (non-Christian religious songs). Police questioned Pastor Somu Avaradhi after an individual complained of being taken to the church to be converted, an accusation strenuously denied.
On Sunday 7 November extremists forced their way into a prayer hall in Belagavi district, claiming that Pastor Lema Cherian was conducting illegal conversions. They locked some 30 Christians in the room until the police arrived. Police made no arrests.
Pastors in Madhya Pradesh, one of the nine states with anti-conversion laws, have started to document the names of Christians attending church services in order to protect themselves against false allegations of illegal religious conversions. This move has been made necessary after several instances of uninvited visitors infiltrating meetings claiming to have been victims of forced conversion.
Lift up Christians in Karnataka to the Lord. Pray that the proposed anti-conversion law will not be introduced, and that any investigation conducted into Christians’ activities will bring the beauty of Christ’s life-transforming power to sharp focus (Colossians 1:21-22). Pray for an end to the violent attacks on Christian worship services. Ask that Christians in Madhya Pradesh will know Divine wisdom in protecting themselves against false accusations.
Pakistan – Calls for urgent release from jail of mentally disabled Pakistani Christian; Nine Christians injured in shooting as Muslims attempt to seize land
Human rights experts called on 21 October for the urgent release of Stephen Masih, a mentally disabled Pakistani Christian arrested in March 2019 for alleged “blasphemy” in Punjab province.
Stephen was beaten by a crowd of Muslim men while at home in Sialkot District following a quarrel with a neighbour. He was accused of making derogatory remarks against Muhammad, the prophet of Islam, an offence which carries a mandatory death penalty. His family denies the claims.
Stephen, who suffered brain damage as a result of typhoid fever at the age of ten, was attacked in jail by Muslim prisoners and now occupies a single cell for his protection.
The human rights team urged Pakistan to comply with its international human rights obligations and repeal its “blasphemy” laws, which are often used to make false accusations in order to settle personal grudges.
In Verahi district, Punjab, at least nine people were wounded, three critically, after a group of Muslims opened fire on Pakistani Christians in an attempt to force them to give up land that has been handed down through generations of believers.
The shooting happened on 29 October as the Christians watered their fields. Christian families have resisted previous threats from Muslims to force them to sell their land, describing the offers made as far below the fields’ market value.
The Christians filed a First Information Report with police but continued to receive threats from their attackers, who were granted bail.
Cry out to the Lord for Stephen that he will know his Saviour’s comfort throughout the whole bewildering, unsettling legal process and be exonerated from charges of “blasphemy” (Deuteronomy 32:4). Pray that the authorities will listen to concerns expressed about Stephen’s persecution and ongoing detention. Ask that the Christians in Vehari district will experience God’s protection and the assurance that the earth is the Lord’s and be faithful stewards of the land provided (Psalm 24:1).
Haiti – Group of 17 missionaries and children kidnapped
A group of 17 Christian missionaries, including five children, were abducted by an armed gang in Haiti on 16 October while returning from a visit to build an orphanage there. At the time of writing only two of the party have been released.
The notorious 400 Mawozo gang, known for carrying out kidnappings and killings in the region, abducted the group, comprising 16 Americans and one Canadian, as they travelled to the airport where some were due to fly home. The missionaries, who travelled to Haiti with the US-based Christian Aid Ministries, were seized when the gang set up roadblocks east of the island capital, Port-au-Prince.
Haiti has the worst global record for kidnapping. At least 328 people were reported kidnapped in the first eight months of 2021, according to figures from the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti.
Call out to the Lord for Christians held against their will throughout the world. Ask that the missionaries still being held will know His perfect peace as they keep their minds focused on God (Isaiah 26:3) and that they will soon be released. Pray that the light of Christ will shine brilliantly in all the group and that the forces of darkness will not be able to withstand it (John 1:5).
Egypt – Egypt lifts four-year state of emergency imposed after church bombings; Two Muslim brothers jailed for life for killing Christian shopkeeper; Cabinet committee registers 63 more churches
On 25 October President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi lifted Egypt’s nationwide state of emergency imposed four years ago following bomb attacks against churches.
Suicide bombers targeted two major churches in Alexandria on Palm Sunday 2017, killing at least 65 people and injuring 126. Islamic State (IS – also known as ISIS, ISIL, Daesh) claimed responsibility for the blasts. At that time Egypt was experiencing a growing wave of violence linked to IS militants, much of it targeted against Christians.
Also in October, two Muslim brothers, Nasser and Ali al-Sambo, were jailed for life (minimum 25 years) by Alexandria Criminal Court for the killing of Egyptian Christian shopkeeper Ramsis Hermina.
Ramsis died of stab wounds in the attack in December 2020. His brother Adel was hospitalised, as was another Christian shopkeeper, Tareq Fawzy Shenouda, who underwent surgery and spent time in intensive care.
On Sunday 7 November another 63 churches and church-affiliated buildings were licensed by the Egyptian Cabinet committee overseeing the process. This 21st batch of registrations brings the total number of licensed churches to 2,021 out of the 3,730 that applied following the repeal of Ottoman-era restrictions on church buildings in 2016.
Christians, who make up 10% of the population, say their situation in Muslim-majority Egypt is now better than it has been in years, despite pressures faced in some rural communities. President al-Sisi has given verbal and practical support to the Christian community whenever anti-Christian incidents occur.
Give thanks for the stability that enabled Egypt to end the state of emergency. Praise God for the favour in which the Christian community is seen by the government and the continued granting of church licences. Pray that ordinary Egyptians will replicate this affirming attitude towards Christians. Thank the Lord that justice was done for Ramsis and pray that both Adel and Tareq will receive healing in recovering from their ordeal. Ask that the Christian community in Alexandria will continue to share God’s love faithfully (Matthew 5:44) and that there will be no backlash from Muslims at the verdicts.
Armenia – Armenian Genocide recognition bills introduced to UK and Israel parliaments
A bill to recognise the Ottoman-era Armenian Genocide passed its first reading in the UK House of Commons on 9 November.
If passed into law the act would require the UK Government to officially recognise the Armenian Genocide, establish an annual commemoration of the genocide, and incorporate teaching about the genocide into the National Curriculum.
Tim Loughton, MP, Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Armenia, argued, “Refusing to recognise the Armenian Genocide risks conveying a dangerous message of impunity, that a crime unpunished is a crime encouraged or downplayed.”
The bill’s second reading will take place on 18 March 2022. To become law it must pass through several further stages in both the House of Commons and the House of Lords.
Also on 9 November, a similar bill to officially recognise the Armenian Genocide was introduced by six opposition members of Israel’s Knesset (parliament). The bill now requires approval from the Knesset Speaker and deputy speakers in order to be scheduled for a first reading.
In September the Australian Egyptian Forum Council added its voice to that of the Arab Council of Australia in urging the Australian government to acknowledge the slaughter of a century ago. The Zionist Federation of Australia had earlier also called on the governments of Australia and Israel to formally recognise the genocide.
Between 1893 and 1923 some 1.5 million Armenians were killed in the Ottoman Empire in a policy of extermination of Christian minorities. In addition, 2.25 million Assyrian, Greek and Syriac Christians were also killed within Ottoman territories between 1914 and 1923.
Praise God for answered prayer that both the UK and Israel have bills progressing through parliament to formally recognise the Armenian Genocide. Pray that no stumbling blocks will hinder the bills’ progress and that they will be passed into law. Pray that the governments of Australia and New Zealand will take notice of Barnabas Fund’s petition for the recognition of the Armenian Genocide and other bodies calling for the same thing. A total of 14,572 people signed the Barnabas Fund petition calling for the genocide to be officially recognised, which was presented to the governments of the UK, Australia and New Zealand.
